Strip-moistening machine.



C. H. CROWELL. STRIP MOISTENING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN-22,1914. RENEWED DEC- 2 aim I:

sraIr-MoIsTENINq MACHINE.

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Application filed January 22, 1914, Serial 110,813,625. Renewed December 27, 1915. Serial No. 68,945,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CRowELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Swampscott, county of Essex, and State of It assachusetts, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Strip- Moistening Machines, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the same.

This invention relates especially to machines or devices for moistening strips of gummed paper orthe like which may comprise a revolving retractor roll or device to retract the end of the strip after moistening and before severance of the moistened end takes place, a suitable automatic release locking device being preferably automatically actuated by relative movement of the strip toward the cutter or severing device so that under these conditions the strip is locked throughout the severing operation and undesirable movement prevented under these conditions. The holder for the roll of gummed tape or the like may if desired be formed of paper or other similar material and have the frame carrying the retracting, severing and moistoning devices attached to its upper portion.

In the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way an illustrative embodiment of this invention, F igure 1 is a vertical side section; and Fig. 2

is another vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of Fig. l.v

The holder for the roll of gummed tape may be of any desired form, material and construction, and may be cheaply and conveniently made of heavy box board or other heavy paper material which facilitates the application of advertising matter thereto. The holder may comprise members out or formed of one piece of heavy box board or other paper material, suitablyscored at the corners so as to form the side 6 and the narrow ends 9 and 19 attached thereto and reinforced at the corners in any desired way as by the use of stapled metal corner strips or other strips or material. F or convenient access to the inside of this holder one side, such as 7, may be arranged to be opened or removed in any desired way, as for instance, by being hinged to the end 9 as by the use of the cloth or other suitable hinge strips 11 secured to these parts. Any convenient fasteningmay be used to normally hold thiseover closed, such for example, as one or more clasp fasteners or metal strips 16 which may be secured to the cover as by having integral fastening tongues 18 stapled or clenched through this cover, the bent end 17 of this fastener being adapted to goaround the end 19 of the holder and engage the other side 6 thereof as shown in Fig. 2. The tape roll may be mounted Within the holder in any desired way as on a suitable support pin, such as 3, of such size as to fit loosely within the usual core 2 supplied with these rolls of gummed tape or strip and this pin may be supported in any desired way within the holder, preferably in connection with one or more suitable tension or reinforcing lining members, such for instance, as the sheets or strips ofcorrugated paper material 8 which may be glued or otherwise secured to one or both sides of the holder so as to reinforce the same and so as to have more or less tensionlng action on the tape roll by reason of the resi iency of the sides of the holder and of these sheets of corrugated paper material which preferably have the usual smooth or flat facing strips thereon. The pin '3 may as indicated in Fig. 2 besecured to the side 5 of the holder as by a suitable securing pinor device 4 when the support pin is of wood, the end of the support pin fitting within a hole or recess extending more or less through the adjacent lining end of this support pin may be conveniently recelved 111 a suitable socket 5 formed in the lining member 8 on the cover 7 so as to hold this end of the pin in alinement when the cover of the holder is in the closed position indicated. provided with a suitable bottom such as 12, of wood or other convenient material, pins or nails 13 being used in this connection, if desired. It is in some cases convenient to have a suitable base piece, such as 14, on which the. holder rests and for convenience in pack-- ing and transportation this wider basemay be formed in two or more pieces connected together as by tongue and groove joint and firmly secured to the bottom 12 as by screws 15.

lVhere as has been indicated, the body of the holder is formed of paper or the like, it is desirable to have the moistening, severing and other devices rigidly mounted as in a metal frame which can be secured where desired to the top of the holder, although this is not of course necessary in some cases.

The holder may be conveniently member 8. The other If it is desired to place the gummed strip 20 under additional tension after leaving the roll 1 it may be passed over suitable tension pins or devices 22, 23 and then if desired led over an additional tension device or guide 2% of sheet metal which may be in tegral with the metallic cradle or support when a retractor roll is used. The strip 20 may also pass over a curved guide 33 similarly mountedin the frame 31 of tin or other suitable sheet metal or material and if desired suitable retaining guides or loops, such as 34 may be stamped up at intervals out of the metal constituting the top of this frame so as to hold the strip in vertical alinement and prevent undesirable buckling at this point.

A severing device or cutter such as the stationary cutter 40 having a serrated edge if desired, may be mounted in the bracket ll so that the end of the strip be swung up against this cutter to sever therefrom the free end which has been moistened in any desired way. A suitable moistener ahead of the cutter is shown in this connection as comprising the moistening tank 42 in which any suitable moistener may be arranged, such for example, as the strips of wicking or other suitable material 44 which may be passed through the moistener aper tures 4L5 and fit therein suiiiciently tightly to normally hold the moistener in position, so that the strip may be drawn out in contact therewith and'be moistened to the desired extent. A suitable filling opening 46 may be formed in this moistening tank and a depression or recess, such as 43, is preferably formed in the top of the frame adjacent the cutter so that the end 21 of the strip may be more readily engaged by the fingers when another section of strip is to be pulled out and used. The frame 31 may be secured to the holder in any desired way, as for instance, by forming on the frame suitable fastening tongues 32 which may be integral with the sheet metal sides and ends of the frame and be passed through openings in the upper portion of the holder so as to be clenched around the same as indicated in the drawings and firmly hold the frame and operating parts thereon in proper position. As shown in Fig. 2, the sides of the frame may be arranged just inside the cover 7 and side 6 to which it may be attached in the manner described and the inner lining member 8 secured to this side member may have its upper end project up beyond the lower edge of the side of the frame at various points to more securely hold the frame in proper position.

It is desirable to have the moistened end of the tape retracted before severance so that the tape or strip may be severed on the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions thereof or closely adjacent thereto,

and for this purpose a revolving retractor roll may be conveniently employed. The

retractor roll 26 of metal and hollow or, with stiff paper strip, preferably solid to give the desired Weight or pressure of a number of ounces to this retractor, may preferably be formed with bearing projections or trunnion pins 27 of substantially conical form adjacent its axis so as to more effectively guide it between the sides of the frame as it moves vertically under service conditions. This retractor roll rests by its 1 weight on the strip 20 in the cradle 25 so that when the strip is first drawn forward this retractor roll freely rotates and is free to rise, and under these conditions exerts a minimum tension on the strip which also feeds forward more freely because it does not have to be drawn over the tension pins or devices or cause rotation of the tape roll at the start. When, however, the retractor roll moves upward sufficiently to engage the cooperating parts its initial free revolution is retarded by the more or less effective braking action which then occurs so that the tension or draft of the strip is increased in this way as well as by the additional effort required to start the tape roll and overcome friction over the other tension or guicing devices. For some purposes, it is desirable to employ a suitable retractor spring which may cooperate in any desired way with the retractor roll to return it toward its inoperative position shown in Fig. l and this retractor spring may if desired be in the form of a light leaf spring 29 having one end secured to the top 30 of the frame 31 and being formed with a suitable curved portion or seat 28 with which the retractor roll may engage when the roll is raised. by the strip so as to force this retractor spring upward into contact with the frame or other part so as to secure a definite position of the retractor roll when the strip is being drawn forward. As soon as the end of the strip is released or forward movement ceases, the weight of the retractor roll and the resiliency of the retractor spring tend to at once throw the retractor roll downward so as to retract the end of the strip, the extent of downward movement of the roll being so arranged as to leave the end 21 of the strip projecting half an inch or so beyond the cutter bracket and other parts adjacent the gripping recess or opening. This retracting action takes place as soon as the forward pull on the strip is released so that when operating the device normally the strip is fully retracted before its end is swung backward and upward against the cutter to sever the moistened end of the strip.

It is in some cases desirable to have 10 strip held or locked against movement durin the cuttln o eration and this ma 1 be conveniently effected by employing an au-- tomatic release locking device in connection with the cutter so that whenever relative movement of the strip toward the cutter takes place in any way as when the strip is swung up toward the cutter for severance thereby it automatically grips or locks the strip against movement. This locking device may comprise the locking grip for engagement with the strip and the connected locking arm 36 to be operated by the strip end so that when thrown up into dotted position the grip comes into engagement with the strip to the rear so as to prevent any further longitudinal movement at this point. The locking device may have the integral bearing lugs 37 bent up at each side of the grip so as to be engaged by the pin 38 mounted in suitable projections or extensions 39 on the frame at this point. In this way when the projecting end 21 of the strip is gripped in the fingers of the operator and drawn forward the initial movement takes place very readily, the retractor roll revolving under these conditions and then when the braking action on the roll occurs and the strip must rotate the tape roll after the slack has been taken up the draft or pull must be correspondingly increased while the desired length of the strip is being drawn over the moistener. Then as soon as the forward pull on the strip is released the retractor roll at once retracts or moves back the strip to such extent that when the strip is swung up toward the cutter and severed thereon the severance takes place substantially on the line between the moistened and unmoistened portion of the strip which during this severing action may be locked against movement by the automatic locking device described which is instantly released as soon as the strip is completely severed and returns to the position shown in Fig. 1, where it rests on the strip and by its weight minimizes buckling of the strip and normally holds it in the position shown Having described this invention in connection with a number of illustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, materials, parts, and arrangements to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim 1. in strip moistening machines, a holder comprising outside portions of scored paper board having a hinged removable cover and a clasp fastener thereon to normally hold the cover in closed position, resilient corrugated paper lining members secured on the inner faces of the sides of said holder to engage a tape roll, a support pin mounted in one of the sides of said holder and having an end adapted to engage in an alining socket in the removable coverto support a tape roll in said holder, a bottom secured to said holder and a sectional base removably secured to said bottom, a sheet metal frame having integral fastening tongues secured to the upper part of said holder, moistening devices mounted in said frame and comprising a moistening tank and moistener, a cutter mounted in said frame and adapted to act on the strip between'thetape roll and moistener, and an,

automatic release locking device to engage and hold the strip when the strip is swung up toward the cutter and a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened so that severance normally takes I place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions.

2. In. strip moistening machines, a holder comprising outside portions of scored paper board having a hinged removable cover and clasp fastener thereon to normally hold the cover in closed position, resilient corrugated paper lining members secured on the inner faces of the sides of sa1d holder to engage a tape roll, a support mountedv ,moistener, a cutter mounted in said frame adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, and a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between 7 the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened.

3. In strip moistening machines, a holder comprising outside portions of paper board having a hinged removable cover and a fastener thereon to normally hold the cover in closed position, resilient lining members secured on the'inner faces of the sides of said holder to engage a tape roll, av support mounted in one of the sides of said holder to support a tape roll in said holder, a sheet metal frame having integral fastening tongues secured to the upper part of said holder moistening devices mounted in said frame and comprising a moistening tank and moistener and a cutter mounted in said frame.

4. In' strip moistening machines, a support for a tape roll, a sheet metal frame,

moistening devices mounted in said frame and comprising a moistening tank and a moistener cooperating with said tank, a stationary cutter mounted in said frame to act on the strip between thetape roll and moisecting trunnion retractor roll having tener, a recess in which the projecting severed end of the strip normally lies, and an automatic release locking device arrange adjacent to said cutter and comprising a grip to engage and hold the strip to the rear of the cutter when the strip is swung up toward the cutter, guides for said strip formed on said frame and comprising retaining guide loops punched out of said frame, and a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened so that severance normally takes place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions, said retractor roll having laterally'propins to loosely cooperate with the sides of the frame, a cradle on which the retractor roll and interposed strip rest when in inoperative position and a retractor spring having a seat in which said retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert braking action, said spring promoting the quick return of the retractor when the forward movement of the strip ceases.

5. In strip moistening machines, a support fora tape roll, a sheet metal frame, moistening devices mounted in said frame and comprising moistening tank and a moistener cooperating with said tank, a stationary cutter mounted in said frame to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, a recess inwhich the projecting severed end of the strip normally lies, and an automatic release locking device arranged to cooperate with said cutter and comprising a grip to engage and hold the strip to the rear of the cutter and means to actuate said grip when thestrip is swung up toward the cutter and a revolving retractor roll cooper'ating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened so that severance normally takes place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions.

6; In strip'moistening machines, a frame, a support for a tape roll, a moistener, a cutter adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, and a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened so that severance normally takes place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions, said laterally projecting trunnion pins tov loosely cooperate with the sides of the frame, a cradle on which the retractor roll is supported when in inoperative position and a retractor return spring hav- 7 ing a seat in which said retractor rests when the strlp 1s being drawn forward to eXert 3 braking action.

7. In strip moistening machines, a frame, a support for a tape roll, a moistener, a cutter adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, and a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened so that severance normally takes place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions, a cradle on which the retractor roll is supported when in inoperative position and a seat in which said retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert braking action.

8'. In strip moistening machines, a frame, a support for a tape roll, a moistener a cutter adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, and a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip be tween the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened and a seat in which said retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert brakingaction.

9. In strip moistening machines, a frame, a support for a tape roll, a moistener, a cutter adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, an automatic release locking device cooperating with said cutter and comprising a pivoted grip to engage and hold the strip to the rear of the cutter when the strip and cutter move'relatively into cooperation, guides for said strip comprising retaining guide loops, a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened so that severance normally takes place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions, said retractor roll having laterally projecting trunnion pins to loosely cooperate with the sides of the frame, a cradle on which the retractor roll is supported when in inoperative position and a cooperating retractor return spring having a seat'in which said retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert braking action.

10. In strip moistening machines, a frame, a support for a tape roll, a moistener, a cutter adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, an automatic Gil release locking device cooperating with said cutter to engage and hold the strip to the rear of the cutter, when the strip and cutter move relatively into cooperation, a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn for- 3' ward and moistened so that severance normally takes place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions, said retractor roll having laterally projecting trunnion pins to loosely cooperate with the sides of the frame, a cradle on which the retractor roll is supported when in inoperative position and a cooperating retractor return spring having a seat in which said retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert braking action.

11. In strip moistening machines, a frame, a support for a tape roll, a moistener, a cutter adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip be tween the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and moistened so that severance normally takes place adjacent the line between the moistened and unmoistened portions, said retractor roll having laterally projecting trunnion pins.

12. In strip moistening machines, a frame, a support for a tape roll, a moistener, a cutter adapted to act on the strip between the tape roll and moistener, and a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip between the tape roll and cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn for-- ward, said retractor roll having laterally projecting trunnion pins.

13. In strip serving machines, a frame, a support for the strip, a cutter adapted to act on the strip, an automatic release looking device cooperating with said cutter and comprising a grip to engage and hold the strip to the rear of the cutter when the strip is swung up toward the cutter and thereby bring said grip into locking engagement with the strip, a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip before it reaches the cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward, said retractor roll having laterally projecting trunnion pins to loosely cooperate with the sides of the frame, a cradle on which the retractor roll is supported when in inoperative position and a retractor return spring having a seat in which said retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert braking action.

14. In strip serving machines, a frame, a j

support for the strip, a cutter adapted to act on the strip, an automatic release lock ing device cooperating with said cutter and comprising a grip to engage and hold the strip to the rear of the cutter when the strip is swung up toward the, cutter and thereby bring said grip into locking engagement with the strip, a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip before it reaches the cutter to retract the stripafter a section has been drawn forward, a cradle on which Copies of this patent may be obtained-for the-retractor roll is supported when in inoperative position and a seat in which said I retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert braking action.

15. In strip serving machines, a frame, a support for the strip, a cutter adapted to act on the strip, an automatic release locking device cooperating with said cutter and comprising a grip to engage and hold the strip adjacent the cutter when the strip and cutter move relatively so as to come into co operation and thereby bring said grip into locking engagement with the strip, a revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip before it reaches the cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and a seat in which said retractor rests when the strip is being drawn forward to exert braking action.

16. In strip serving machines, a frame, a support for the strip, a cutter adapted to act on the strip, a bodily movable revolving retractor roll cooperating with the strip before it reaches the cutter to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward and means with which said roll comes into cooperation after the first forward movement of the strip to retard the subsequent rotation of said roll and enable it to exert a differential tension on the strip as it is drawn forward.

17. In strip serving machines, a frame, a

18. In strip serving machines, a frame, a

support for the strip and a bodily movable revolving retractor roll cooperating with said strip to retract the strip after a section has been drawn forward, said retractor roll having laterally projecting trunnion pins to loosely cooperate with the sides of the frame, a cradle on which the retractor roll is supported when in lnoperative posit on and a cooperatlng retractor return sprlng.

CHARLES H. CROWELL.

Witnesses:

HARRY L. DUNCAN, J EssIE B. KAY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

